Derek Jeter’s drought

I was in the U.S. for almost two weeks recently and could finally watch Yankees games live instead of the recorded version. There were two things that struck me the most about this season’s team: one, the percentage of runs scored via homers is astoundingly high (almost 60% at one point, by far the highest of any MLB team) and two, Derek Jeter is off to a terrible start. Regarding the latter, I’ve never been one of those alarmists who declare a player’s season over in April or even May simply because of a low batting average – look at Mark Teixeira’s historically slow starts or more recently, David Ortiz who bounced back from an abysmal April with a rash of homers last year. Plus, I’ve always tended to give a player of Jeter’s status the benefit of the doubt because of all his accomplishments. In fact, barring catastrophic injury, Jeter should reach 3,000 career hits, the first player to do so wearing only a Yankees uniform which is incredible given the history of the franchise. To some extent, I think the pursuit of the record may be subconsciously affecting Jeter as it did for A-Rod last season (even I was tired of waiting for the 600th homer!)

Unfortunately, I don’t think the record alone is the issue as Jeter simply seems uncomfortable at the plate. He worked with hitting coach Kevin Long in the offseason to improve on his sub-par 2010 stats; however, these tweaks have proved futile as he’s not even hitting the ball hard. As players get older, the number of homers are bound to decline but in Jeter’s case even his trademark line drives are few and far between. In several cases, he’s either struck out or grounded into a double play with runners in scoring position so Girardi must be wondering whether to move him further down in the line-up although is reluctant to admit it.  To be fair, Jeter’s not the only player to waste such opportunities as the Yankees have relied – too heavily – on the long ball to get runners across. In fact, if they don’t start playing “small ball” I seriously worry about their postseason chances.

So, is this the end of Jeter’s storied tenure in New York? Certainly not, despite what some idiot fans who chanted for his trade might think. As the Captain, he undoubtedly plays an important role on the team but unless his productivity increases, some line-up changes must be made. Jeter has deservedly enjoyed the spotlight and all the perks that come from being a star in New York but there is also no tougher place to play, especially when the going gets tough.

Another shot at Jeter…really?!

This article appeared in the New York Post Hank Steinbrenner tweaks Derek Jeter over mansion of Yankees captain and I must admit that I’m stunned. Not because Steinbrenner is yapping yet again – this time blaming Jeter for their playoff loss to the Rangers – that’s a given due to his lineage. No, the issue I have is that he’s clearly gone off the deep end. In his mind, Steinbrenner thinks that these constant jibes at Jeter which began during his contract negotiations (remember Cashman daring Jeter to test the free agency market?) somehow will motivate him to do better this season. Yes, his numbers were down of late but let’s note that he is 74 hits shy of becoming the FIRST Yankee to reach the 3,000 career hit plateau. This is the same franchise which Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle,  and Reggie Jackson played for. I think this lack of respect for a 5-time champion is not a good sign on the cusp of the 2011 season. Jeter is the ultimate professional and despite admitting to a certain confusion over the public nature of his contract negotations, refuses to say a bad word about the organization.

This, however, is not the only reason why I think Steinbrenner is delusion. In saying that Jeter was distracted from the playoffs because he was building his mansion in Tampa Bay, Steinbrenner has clearly forgotten just how bad his team’s pitching was all season. Management didn’t get Cliff Lee (pay attention Hank – he said the reason he chose Philly was because they had the best shot at a title!) and now what’s left is a newly svelte Sabathia playing out his final contract year, A.J. Burnett who Cashman was so concerned about that he visited him in Arkansas to establish his mental state, and a fat(ter) Joba Chamberlain. Fantastic!  Plus, Steinbrenner is responsible for giving A-Rod, in what is one of the worst contracts of all-time (right after his similar deal with the Rangers), $300 million until 2017!! Hank, you set the market impossibly high! If A-Rod is worth that money (debatable), of course Jeter who means more to the Yankees organization has to get a humongous contract. So,  maybe Steinbrenner is running his own distraction campaign so that we don’t focus on his off-season shortcomings (were you distracted while running your mouth?) but my guess is that this season will not run smoothly to say the least.

Where's the love Hank? Photo courtesy of Steve Nesius - AP